Swimming pool construction



April 22, 1969 og-r11 3,439,362

SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 10, 1967 Sheet of s INVENTOR.

ADAM D. GOETTL April 22, 1969 A. D. GOETTL 3,439,362

SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 10, 19s? Sheet 2 of s INVENTOR. ADAM D. GOETTL /%%Y4/ZZW April 22, 1969 A. D. GOETTL 3,439,352

SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 1o. 19?? Sheet 3 of s I24 H8 H6 9 n2 I20 M FIG. H.

INVENTOR.

ADAM D. GOETTL United States Patent 3,439,362 SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTIQN Adam D. Goettl, 4960 E. Palomino Road, Phoenix, Ariz. 35018 Filed July 10, E67, Ser. No. 652,351) Int. Cl. E04 3/16 US. Cl. 4-172 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swimming pool construction comprising a base having endless ledge means, and a wall assembly on the base adjacent the ledge means, and surrounding a swimming pool area, and adapted to contain water therein; and an inflated seal between the ledge means and the wall assembly to prevent leakage from said area.

This invention relates to a swimming pool construction, and more particularly, to a swimming pool construction comprising an endless wall connected to and disposed above a horizontal base, such that the wall assembly projects normally above ground level.

Background of the invention Various prior art swimming pools have been constructed above ground level. Many of these pools are collapsible, and may be used only during a swimming season. Some prior art pools of this type have employed means to seal an endless wall assembly relative to a base, however, many of these seals are quite ineflicient due to leakage between the base and the wall structure. Many of these pools employ sheet metal walls which tend to flex and vibrate under the load of water, which the wall surrounds, and during diving or various activities in the water when persons swim. The vibration and movement of the wall structure relative to a base structure has caused movement of the wall structure relative to the base, and consequent leakage which prior art seal structures have been incapable of preventing. Additionally, various prior art swimming pools, as hereinbefore discussed, have required hold down means, either bolts or rods for holding the wall of the pool down to the base or concrete slab, all of which has created additional expense and in many instances, the hold down means is directed outwardly and downwardly at an angle from the wall of such prior art pools, so as to be in the way, and at times, may tend to trip swimmers moving about the pool.

Summary of the invention The present invention comprises a base having an endless ledge structure, and a flexible wall structure surrounding a swimming pool area and disposed adjacent the ledge, and an inflatable seal disposed between the ledge and the wall structure to provide continuous sealing pressure regardless of movement of the wall structure relative to the base, whereby efficient sealing of water within the swimming pool area is attained.

Additionally, the present invention comprises a seal structure which not only serves to seal between the foundation or base and the wall of the pool, but which also frictionally locks the wall to the base, and thereby alleviates the necessity of providing separate hold down means for holding down the wall of the pool relative to the foundation or base upon which the wall is sealingly supported.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool construction in which an endless wall structure extends upwardly above a base, and efficient inflated seal structure providing a seal between a 3,439,362 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 ledge on the base and the wall structure surrounding the swimming pool area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel swimming pool construction, including a wall assembly composed of circular intersecting wall sections and abutement means connecting the intersections of the circular wall sections, and secured to the base supporting the wall assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel swimming pool construction involving a plurality of generally circular intersecting wall assemblies which provide for a pool of substantial distance dimensions with a minimum of water capacity relative to the distance dimensions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel swimming pool construction wherein a water surrounding wall is sealingly connected to a foundation by means of an inflatable seal, which also applies suflicient force to the wall to lock it trictionally against a ledge on the concrete base of the invention so as to alleviate the necessity of additional means for holding the wall. to the base.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a persepctive view of a swimming pool const-ruction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 22 of FIGJ;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the seal structure of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top or plan view of a swimming pool construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modified form of the seal means of the invention;

FIG. 7 is another view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a further modified form of the seal means of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a swimming pool construction in accordance with the present invention, showing a wall assembly comprising a plurality of intersecting circular wall members and buttress means for holding the same on a base of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top or plan view of the modification shown in FIG. 8, but showing the structure on reduced scale;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 10-10 showing a wall buttress means of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a top or plan view similar to FIG. 9, but showing a modification of the invention comprising a Wall assembly, including three equilaterally spaced circular wall sections which intersect each other to provide a pool area of considerable distance dimensions with minimum or relatively nominal water displacement capacity.

Description of the preferred embodiments As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention comprises a concrete base 12 and a generally circular flexible wall assembly 14 which may be made of sheet metal, resin impregnated fiber glass, or any other suitable sheet material.

This wall assembly 14 is an endless wall assembly surrounding a swimming pool 16 in which water is held above the level of the base 12.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the base 12 is provided with an endless groove 18 therein. The groove 18 holds a lower edge 20 of the endless circular wall assembly 14 which is provided with a structural rim 20 at its upper edge.

The lower edge 20 being disposed in the groove 18 in the base 12 is engaged by an inflated seal 22 which at one side thereof, engages an endless ledge means 24 at one 3 side of the groove 18. The opposite side of the groove 18 forming a ledge 26 adjacent to which the lower edge 20 of the endless wall assembly is disposed.

The inflated seal 22 is preferably made of flexible tubing, the tubing being hollow and in its interior 28 contains a pressure fluid which may be a liquid under pneumatic pressure, or which may be a liquid under high head pressure, such as that of a conventional domestic water supply.

As shown in FIG. 3, a modified form of the invention, comprises a groove 30 in the base 12. This is an endless groove and provided with opposed side walls 32 and 34 forming ledge means. A lower edge 36 of a wall assembly 38 is disposed in the groove, as will be hereinafter described, and the wall 38 at its upper edge may have a structural rim 20, similar to that shown in FIG. 2.

The structural rim 20 is generally channel-shaped and provided with opposite edges 40 and 42 turned upwardly at opposite sides of the upper edge of the flexible wall 14.

This flexible wall 14 and the wall 38 is provided with upstanding reinforcing ribs 44 on the outer side thereof, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In the modified seal structure, shown in FIG. 3, a hollow tubular endless seal member 46 is preferably made of inflatable or expandable material, such as rubber, neoprene or any other suitable flexible tubing. This may be reinforced with nylon fabric, or the like, and this hollow tubular seal 46, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 3, is provided with a lip portion 48 which engages an opposite side of the lower edge 36 of the wall 38 from the hollow tubular portion of the seal, such that when the seal 46 is inflated with pressure fluid in the interior 50 of the seal, that the lower edge 36 of the wall member 38 is compressed between the tubular portion of the seal and the portion 48, this portion 48 engaging the groove ledge 32, while the tubular portion of the seal is expanded against the groove ledge 34.

As shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, an accumulator 52 may be coupled to the seal 22 or the seal 46. Thi accumuliator 52 may be provided with suitable pneumatic fluid to maintain hydraulic fluids, such as water or the like, internally of the seals 22 or 46 so that the pressure fluid may be liquid, and this liquid may be maintained under pressure in the accumulator 52 by a head of compressed air or gas, as desired.

The accumulator 52 is provided with a suitable fill valve 54.

In the modification, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the base 12 is provided with a groove 56 having opposed ledge walls 58 and 60. A lower edge 62 of a wall 64 is disposed in the groove 56, the wall 64 being equivalent to the wall assembly 14 and the walls 38, hereinbefore described.

Within the groove 56 are two hollow tubular inflatable tubular seals 66, these being superimposed one above the other, and being disposed between the endless wall 64 and the ledge means of the groove 56.

In the modification, as shown in FIG. 7, the base 12 is provided with a groove 68 having opposed upstanding wall ledge means 70 and 72 in which a lower edge 74 of a flexible wall 76 is disposed. This wall 76 being similar to the walls 14, 38 and 64, hereinbefore described.

On opposite sides of the lower edge 74 of the wall 76 are inflatable hollow tubular seals 78 and 80. The seal 78 being disposed between the wall 74 and the ledge 70, while the seal 80 being disposed between the lower end 74 of the wall 76, and the ledge 72. Both of these seals at their respective interior portions 82 and 84 contain pressure fluid, as hereinbefore described, for maintaining a constant pressure seal relative to the lower edge 74 of the wall 76.

Any of the foregoing wall and seal assemblies may be mounted on a modified base 86 having an endless groove similar to any of the grooves 18, 30, 56 or 68, hereinbefore described, and any of the corresponding seals may be used. The modification, shown in FIG. 8, comprises a pair of generally circular wall sections 88 and 90 which intersect each other at areas 92 and 94, such that the circular wall sections 88 and 98, as connected, form two partially circular wall sections, thus, these sections 88 and 90 being arcuate and intersecting at 92 and 94. At these intersections 92 and 94 are buttress structures 96 and Q8 which structures are connected to the base 86, as shown in FIG. 10.

The buttress structure 98, shown in FIG. 10, is provided with a platform 180, and a structural brace means 182 which at its lower portion 184 is fixed to the base 86 by bolts 106.

The buttress structure 186 is adjacent an endless groove 188 in which any one of the hereinbefore described seals may be located, and which may surround the arcuate or circular intersecting Wall portions 88 and 88.

In the modification, as shown in FIG. 11, three intersecting wall portions of generally arcuate configuration are designated 110, 112 and 114. These generally arcuate portions of intersecting circles are provided with intersecting wall portions 116, 118 and 120 similar to the intersecting portions 92 and 94.

Abutment portions 122, 124 and 126 are fixed to the respective base 128 on which the wall assemblies 110, 112 and 114 are mounted. These buttress assemblies 122, 124 and 126 are similar to the herinbefore described buttress structure 98, disclosed in FIG. 10 of the drawings.

It will be seen from the disclosure of FIG. 11, that the circular or arcuate wall sections 118, 112 and 114 are disposed on. central axes which are equilaterally spaced relative to each other, and generally in an equilateral triangularly disposed relation to each other.

From an extremity of the wall assembly portion 112 to the extremity of the other wall portions 110 and 114, considerable swimming distance is provided, and yet the overall water displacement capacity of the area 130 surrounded by these sections 110, 112 and 114 is less than a circular pool having a diameter equal to the lon est distance from one corner of thi pool, as shown in FIG. 11, to another corner thereof. Accordingly, the swimming distance of the pool, shown in FIG. 11, is relatively great in proportion to the water displacement capacity, and thus the economy of operation of such a pool, including chemicals, filtration, etc., and including cleaning is much less than that of a circular pool of a. diameter comparable to the swimming distance provided by the pool, as shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings.

Inflatable seals 22, 46 and 66 'force the respective wall structures 14, 38 and 64 into frictional locking engagement with respective ledge structures 26, 32 and 58, all as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, respectively, of the drawings. The pressure of the inflatable seal forcing the walls against the respective concrete ledges, locks these wall to the respective bases 12, so as to alleviate the necessity of providing separate hold means for the wall structures of the pool relative to the base or foundation structures, and thus alleviates the necessity of bolting the walls down or holding the walls down with brace rods, or the like.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the inflatable seal rigidly supported at one side by a ledge of a concrete base, and flexibly forced against a wall structure of the upstanding pool surrounding wall assembly provides a seal which will conform with the wall structure even though it tends to move under vibration and load, and to thereby provide an efficient seal which prevents leakage of water from the area surrounded by the wall assembly of the invention, as hereinbefore described.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a swimming pool construction, the combination of: a concrete base; a sheet metal Wall assembly projecting upwardly from said base, and surrounding a swimming pool area and adapted to 'hold water therein above said base; ledge means on said base adjacent said wall assembly; an an inflated seal disposed between said ledge means and said wall assembly and forming a liquid seal to prevent leakage of water from said area and t0 frictionally lock the wall assembly against said ledge means.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said ledge means is disposed inwardly relative to said wall assembly, said inflated seal being engaged with an inner side of said wall assembly.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said inflated seal is hollow, and pressure fluid is disposed internally of said hollow seal.

'4. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said wall assembly comprises a pair of intersecting circular wall sections; and lbuttress structures are disposed and connecting said wall sections together at their intersections with each other, said buttress structures fixed to said base.

5. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said wall assembly comprises three intersecting circular Wall sections, all disposed in equilateral relation to each other; and buttress structures connecting said wall sections together at their intersections with each other, said buttress structures fixed to said base.

6. In a swimming pool construction, the combination of: a concrete base; a flexible wall assembly projecting upwardly from said lbase and surrounding a swimming pool, and adapted to hold water therein above said base; a groove in said base holding a lower edge of said wall assembly therein; said groove having a pair of opposed ledges; and an inflated seal disposed in said groove at one side of said wall assembly, and forming a liquid seal between said wall assembly and one of said groove ledges to prevent leakage of water from said area and to frictionally lock said wall assembly against said groove ledge.

posite side of said wall assembly from said first mentioned seal.

8. The invention, as defined in claim 3, wherein: a pressure fluid reservoir is disposed in communication with said hollow inflated seal to maintain said seal under constant inflated pressure.

9. In a swimming pool construction, the combination of: a concrete base; a flexible wall assembly projecting upwardly from said base and surrounding a swimming pool area and adapted to hold water therein above said base; ledge means on said base adjacent said wall assembly; and an inflated seal disposed between said ledge means and said wall assembly, and forming a liquid seal to prevent leakage of water from said area and to frictionally lock the Wall assembly against said ledge means.

10. The invention, as defined in claim 9, wherein: said ledge means comprises 'a groove in said concrete base having opposed walls forming first and second ledges; said inflated seal disposed between one of said ledges and said flexible wall assembly, and forcing one side of said flexible wall assembly against the second ledge frictionally to lock the wall assembly into secure fixed position relative to said concrete base.

11. The invention, as defined in claim 10, wherein: said inflated seal engages an inner side of said wall assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,031,801 5/1962 Leuthesser 4---172 3,225,362 12/1965 Barrera 4-172 3,274,621 9/1966 Diemond et al. 4-172 3,280,408 10/1966 Gershman 4-172 3,315,278 4/1967 Schatzki et al. 4172 3,358,761 12/1967 Powers 4-172 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

HENRY K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner. 

